Cooler door shelf device with removable product panel

ABSTRACT

A shelf device for mounting on an inside surface of a cooler door comprises a bottom panel having left and right side edge portions. Left and right mounting flanges connected to the bottom panel along the respective left and right side edge portions extend upward therefrom. Each flange has a pair of openings therein vertically spaced from one another and adapted to mount and support the shelf device. A partition panel is connected to the bottom panel and mounting flanges divide the bottom panel into a plurality of compartments. A display panel is attached to the left and right mounting flanges below the bottom panel and is spaced from the bottom panel. The display panel includes top and bottom lips forming a slot for slidably receiving a display insert.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a cooler, and, more particularly, to a door shelf device for a transparent cooler door.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Upright coolers in supermarkets and convenience stores typically have transparent glass doors so that the products inside are visible. It is now common to use the inside of the door for shelving as is done in household refrigerators. Door shelving fits against the door so that the product containers are visible, however the product labels do not always face forward for easy identification of the product. Some shelves have a small area for affixing product identification, but such small areas lack the impact needed, especially for impulse purchases. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that it would be highly desirable to have a door shelf with a large area for product labeling and identification.

A display shelf which employs a mounting or support panel for attachment to one face of a transparent wall is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,433. The display shelf has a floor which projects from the top edge of the support panel and a containment wall which projects upwardly from the floor. The support panel does not extend above the floor in the area which supports displayed product so that the product is visible through the transparent wall. Advertising material may be displayed on the support panel below the floor and the containment wall and/or floor may be appropriately shaped to provide individual compartments for each unit of product displayed. The display shelf is supported on a cooler door by suction cups which anchor in openings in flanges wherein one opening is above the floor and the other opening is below the floor. Advertising on the support panel cannot be changed while the shelf is attached to the cooler door because the lower openings and suction cups block access. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that it would be highly desirable to have a display shelf device that allows the advertising to be changed while the shelf device is attached to the cooler door.

Also, the support or mounting panel extends below the floor that supports the articles on the shelf and is an integral part of the structure require for the requisite support of the shelf and articles thereon. Because the support panel extends below the floor, and therefore below the product on the shelf, it adds height to the shelf and increases the space required for the shelf. It is desirable to have a shelf device that has a graphic display panel that is not required to support the shelf device and that can be removed to conserve space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to the present invention a shelf device for mounting on an inside surface of a cooler door comprises a bottom panel having left and right side edge portions. Left and right mounting flanges connected to the bottom panel along the respective left and right side edge portions extend upward therefrom. Each flange has a pair of openings therein vertically spaced from one another and adapted to mount and support the shelf device. A partition panel is connected to the bottom panel and mounting flanges dividing the bottom panel into a plurality of compartments to fit the configuration of articles therein.

The shelf device is attached to the inside surface of the cooler door using suction cups with a protrusion. The studs or protrusions fit through the openings in the mounting flanges to anchor the shelf device to the door. The shelf device utilizes space in the cooler that would otherwise be wasted and increases visual appeal product identification at the door where it is more readily seen than that on the containers in the cooler.

A display panel is removably attached to the left and right mounting flanges below the bottom panel and is spaced from the bottom panel. The display panel includes top and bottom lips forming a slot for slidably receiving a display insert. Because the shelf device is supported via openings in the flanges above the display panel, the insert can be inserted and removed while the shelf device is mounted on the cooler door.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a shelf device has a bottom panel with left and right side edge portions. Left and right mounting flanges connected to the bottom panel along the respective left and right side edge portions extend upward therefrom. Each flange has a pair of openings therein vertically spaced from one another and adapted to mount and support the shelf device. A partition panel is connected to the bottom panel and mounting flanges dividing the bottom panel into a plurality of compartments to fit the configuration of articles therein. A display panel is spaced from the bottom panel and attached to the left and right mounting flanges.

These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to the accompanying drawings

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a shelf device attached to the inside surface of an upright cooler door according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic front view of the shelf device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic top view of the shelf device taken of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a shelf device 10 is attached to an inside surface of an upright cooler door 12. Articles, such as beverage containers for example, can be placed on shelf device 10 for easy viewing through the cooler door 12 which minimizes the need to open the door to view the contents. It also utilizes the door space for storing additional product in a space that would otherwise be wasted.

Shelf device 10 has a bottom panel 14 with front, rear, left and right side edge portions. A left mounting flange 16 is connected to bottom panel 14 along the left side edge portion and extends upward therefrom. Left mounting flange 16 has a pair of openings 18 therein vertically spaced from one another and adapted to mount and support the shelf device in conjunction with studs or suction cups 19. Similarly, a right mounting flange 20 is connected to bottom panel 14 along the right side edge portion and extends upward therefrom. Right mounting flange 20 has a pair of openings 22 therein vertically spaced from one another and adapted to mount and support the shelf device in conjunction with studs or suction cups 21.

A partition panel 24 is connected to bottom panel 14 and the left and right mounting flanges 16, 20 dividing bottom panel 14 into a plurality of compartments. Partition panel 24 extends upward from bottom panel 14. As illustrated, the compartments are curved to fit the contour of beverage bottles, but can be contoured to fit other container shapes.

A display panel 26 is removably attached to the left and right mounting flanges 16, 20 below bottom panel 14. Display panel 26 is spaced from bottom panel 14 and thus does not contribute to the support of the shelf device 10. Preferably, display panel 26 is frangibly attached to mounting flanges 16, 20 so that it may be removed when not desired or to fit space requirements of the cooler. Top and bottom flanges or lips 28, 30 form a slot for slidably receiving a display insert 32. Each lip may be a long, single lip or may be a series of shorter lips extending across display panel 26.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements of the preferred embodiments without departing from invention. For example, while it is anticipated that the shelf device will be integrally molded of transparent plastic, opaque plastic could be used. It is accordingly intended that the claims shall cover all such modifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

ELEMENT LIST

-   10 shelf device -   12 upright cooler door -   14 bottom panel -   16 left mounting flange -   18 left mounting flange openings -   19 left suction cups -   20 right mounting flange -   21 right suction cups -   22 right mounting flange openings -   24 partition panel -   26 display panel -   28 top lip -   30 bottom lip -   32 display insert 

1. A shelf device for an inside surface of a cooler door, comprising: a bottom panel having front, rear, left and right side edge portions; a left mounting flange connected to said bottom panel along said left side edge portion and extending upward therefrom, said left mounting flange having a pair of openings therein vertically spaced from one another and adapted to mount and support said shelf device; a right mounting flange connected to said bottom panel along said right side edge portion and extending upward therefrom, said right mounting flange having a pair of openings therein vertically spaced from one another and adapted to mount and support said shelf device; and a partition panel connected to said bottom panel and said left and right mounting flanges dividing said bottom panel into a plurality of compartments.
 2. A shelf device, as set forth in claim 1, including a display panel removably attached to said left and right mounting flanges below said bottom panel.
 3. A shelf device, as set forth in claim 1, including a display panel frangibly attached to said left and right mounting flanges below said bottom panel.
 4. A shelf device, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said display panel is spaced from said bottom panel.
 5. A shelf device, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said display panel includes top and bottom lips forming a slot for slidably receiving a display insert.
 6. A shelf device, comprising: a bottom panel having left and right side edge portions; a left mounting flange connected to said bottom panel along said left side edge portion and extending upward therefrom, said left mounting flange having a pair of openings therein vertically spaced from one another and adapted to mount and support said shelf device; a right mounting flange connected to said bottom panel along said right side edge portion and extending upward therefrom, said right mounting flange having a pair of openings therein vertically spaced from one another and adapted to mount and support said shelf device; a partition panel connected to said bottom panel and said left and right mounting flanges dividing said bottom panel into a plurality of compartments; and a display panel spaced from said bottom panel and attached to said left and right mounting flanges below said bottom panel.
 7. A shelf device, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said display panel includes top and bottom lips forming a slot for slidably receiving a display insert. 